LPGA

• Gustafson builds six-shot lead at Ginn Tribute

  
  

  Mt.

  Pleasant, SC (Sports Network) - Sophie Gustafson fired a five-under 67 on Saturday to build a six-shot lead heading into the final round of the Ginn Tribute Hosted by Annika.

  Gustafson stood at 18-under-par 198 after three sparkling rounds, smashing the 54-hole tournament scoring record of 205 that Lorena Ochoa set on the way to winning the debut of Annika Sorenstam's tournament last year.

  A four-time LPGA Tour winner, Gustafson will tee off Sunday in very good position to claim her first victory since 2003. She was surprised that she had built such a large lead.

  "I thought someone else would have a good round, but I guess that's just proof of how difficult it was out there," said Gustafson.

  The 34-year-old Swede had help in building her comfortable advantage -- some from the swirling winds at RiverTowne, and some from her competitors.

  Karrie Webb, tied with Gustafson for the second-round lead, was done in by a poor back-nine Saturday that included four bogeys in a five-hole stretch ending at the 15th.

  Webb ended up with a one-over 73 in the third round, falling six shots off Gustafson's pace at 12-under 204.

  "I have a lot of work to do," she said.

  Na Yeon Choi joined Webb in a share of second place after a four-under 68 that could have been just a little better -- or perhaps a little worse. Choi hit into a hazard at the 16th, then saved a bogey by making a 10-foot putt.

  "I don't want to leave anything on the course tomorrow," said Choi, a rookie.

  Jane Park was alone in fourth place at 11-under 205, and Song-Hee Kim was behind her at 10-under 206. Both players carded 67s on Saturday.

  Sorenstam, the tournament's host and its top-ranked player after Ochoa's withdrawal earlier in the week, stumbled to a three-over 75 and fell 15 shots off the lead at three-under 213.

  The retiring Hall of Famer tied for 36th place in the first Ginn Tribute last year.

  Gustafson followed a birdie at No. 2 Saturday with a chip-in eagle at the par- five third, holing out from behind the green to move to 16-under par through just 39 holes.

  She went on to birdie the sixth and the 10th holes to build a three-shot lead, which was increased to four strokes when Webb bogeyed the 11th. But Gustafson knocked her drive into the long rough at the par-four 12th and walked off with a double-bogey to let Webb back in.

  Not for long.

  Trailing by just two shots now, Webb went on to bogey the 13th, 14th and 15th holes in succession. Gustafson rolled in a long birdie putt at the 15th and a made a three-footer for birdie at the 16th to gain her six-shot lead.

  Though Gustafson hasn't won on the LPGA Tour in five years, she has claimed several victories on other circuits during that time. The prospect of another LPGA Tour win had her excited, but cautious.

  "There's still one more day," she said.

  05/31 19:21:50 ET